Dr. Hyman Muss joins UNC Lineberger to lead new geriatric oncology program

Chapel Hill, NC - Hyman B. Muss, MD, has joined the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Muss will be a professor of medicine and will develop and lead a new program in geriatric oncology.

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Muss comes to UNC from the University of Vermont Cancer Center where he served as associate director of clinical research and division director of hematology/oncology. He was previously at Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Winston-Salem, NC, where he was a professor of medicine and associate director for clinical research.

Muss said, “Our objective for the Geriatric Oncology Program will be to ensure the highest quality of oncologic care for older patients while factoring in the patient's functional status and other non-cancer illnesses. The program will develop clinical trials integrating prevention, treatment, quality of life, and translational research focused on older patients with cancer. Additionally, the program will develop educational programs for students, house staff, fellows, and faculty concerning aging and cancer to insure the development of research and clinical programs dedicated to advancing cancer care for older patients.”

“In addition to being a master clinician Hy Muss is a national leader in geriatric and breast oncology research,” said Richard Goldberg, MD, UNC Lineberger associate director of clinical research and physician in chief of the NC Cancer Hospital. “As our population ages, the need for oncology programs that are centered upon addressing the issues of this growing population is enormous. Cancer is more common in older adults, and Dr. Muss’ expertise will guide UNC’s research and clinical care to help us address issues facing our older patients with cancer.”

Shelley Earp, MD, director of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, said, “Simply put, Hy Muss is a national treasure. His clinical research accomplishments are outstanding, but are frankly secondary to his skills as a doctor, teacher, and colleague. We are thrilled that the University Cancer Research Fund has allowed us to bring Hy back to North Carolina to start the new, much needed Geriatric Oncology effort.”

Muss earned his undergraduate cum laude degree in chemistry from Lafayette College in Easton, PA and his medical degree from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. He completed his internship, residency and a research fellowship at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, MA. He was honored for his military service in Vietnam with a Bronze Star.

He serves on the Board of Directors for the American Society of Clinical Oncology Foundation and for the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) Cooperative Group, and on the editorial boards of several publications including, Oncology, The Breast Journal, and CURE.